Drug & supplement interaction

Aloe + Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate

Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate brand name: Bilax.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Aloe has a moderate interaction with Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate. Theoretically, aloe latex might increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte loss when taken with stimulant laxatives.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Aloe and Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

STIMULANT LAXATIVES

Why this applies to Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate

Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate falls under STIMULANT LAXATIVES — the group Aloe interacts with.

Theoretically, aloe latex might increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte loss when taken with stimulant laxatives.
Due to cathartic laxative effects of aloe latex, concomitant use with other stimulant laxatives might compound fluid and electrolyte loss.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: aloe latex (the yellow part taken by mouth) is a strong natural laxative. Your Bilax already works on your bowels too, combining docusate (a stool softener) with dehydrocholic acid to get things moving. Stacking two laxative-type products at once isn't dangerous in the usual sense, but it can push your gut harder than you intended.

The real worry is losing too much fluid and important salts like potassium. That can leave you feeling dehydrated, dizzy, weak, or crampy, with watery stools. This concern is mostly theoretical, based on how these products work rather than strong studies. The aloe gel used on skin isn't the issue here. Before taking oral aloe alongside Bilax, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  2. Ishii Y, Tanizawa H, Takino Y. Studies of aloe. IV. Mechanism of cathartic effect. (3). Biol Pharm Bull. 1994;17:495-7. PubMed
  3. Ishii Y, Tanizawa H, Takino Y. Studies of aloe. V. Mechanism of cathartic effect. (4). Biol Pharm Bull. 1994;17:651-3. PubMed
  4. Nelemans FA. Clinical and toxicological aspects of anthraquinone laxatives. Pharmacology. 1976;14 Suppl 1:73-7. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Aloe Also Interacts With Other Medications

Aloe has 1 major, 303 moderate, 156 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 1 Moderate 303 Minor 156 No known interaction 2,370 (incl. Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Aloe

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Aloe. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate

This page covers Aloe only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate page lists 46 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Jalap (major), Oleander (major), Alder Buckthorn (moderate) and Black Hellebore (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 34 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate page

“Bilax pairs dehydrocholic acid with docusate to get the bowel moving, and this is one list where I want your attention, because 29 of its 46 supplement entries are herbal stimulant laxatives that pile onto the same effect. Doubling up drains fluid and potassium, and low potassium is what makes oleander, one of the three major-rated int…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Aloe as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,978 real supplement products containing Aloe, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Aloe. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate too, on top of Aloe — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Aloe and Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Aloe
Top 10%

#86 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate
Steady interest

#2,614 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Aloe

What is Aloe?

Aloe
  • Minor burns and skin irritation
  • Wound healing
  • Constipation
  • Skin hydration and moisturizing
  • Digestive complaints
  • Hair and scalp care

Aloe vera gel is widely used on the skin for minor burns and irritation, and some research suggests it may help. Aloe latex (the yellow part) is a strong laxative that can cause cramping and is not considered safe for regular use. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking aloe by mouth, and avoid oral aloe during pregnancy.

Read the full Aloe monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Aloe

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Aloe — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
303Moderate
156Minor
2,369No known interaction
1 Major 303 Moderate 156 Minor 2,369 No interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

303 interactions

Showing 60 of 303 moderate interactions — see all 303 on the Aloe page.

Minor

156 interactions

Showing 60 of 156 minor interactions — see all 156 on the Aloe page.

No interaction 2,369 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Aloe against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,369 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Aloe list.

See the full Aloe interactions page
See every supplement checked against Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Aloe monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Aloe and Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Aloe with Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Aloe and Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Dehydrocholic Acid , Docusate and Aloe?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.